The Radio 2 host turned up for the programme as usual but was struggling to make himself heard to his nine million listeners.

Instead, sport reporter Vassos Alexander had to take over the mic and present the show, although Chris was still on hand to help out in the studio.

Vassos told listeners that the regular host had to step down "because he turned up this morning and realised he didn't have a voice".

Chris, who has been shortlisted for a Sony Award for his breakfast show, had to give tips on how to present the show, including telling his stand-in how to talk over the jingles.

"He is here - he's just telling me what to do and what to say," Vassos said.

Chris' decision to turn up for work with a dodgy voice shows how far he has come from his wild days in the 1990s.

He failed to turn up for his Radio 1 breakfast show and was fined by then station boss Matthew Bannister. And later, as the breakfast presenter at Virgin, he was absent for several days, instead choosing to go on a drinking binge.